Chapter 2-1
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1932godfreyChapter 2-1
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Module 2 – Using the Computer and Managing Files
Chapter 2.1 – The Desktop
Switching On
Z Make sure that the floppy disk drive is empty
Z Press the Power switch on the front of the system unit
Z You may also need to switch on the monitor
Z If working on a network, you will need to type in a user
name and password (for security reasons the
password will not display)
Z After a short period, the Windows desktop will appear
The Windows Desktop
Icons
System
Start Tray
button
Taskbar
Desktop Icons
A directory/folder Double-click on one of these to open the
icon folder and select a file
A file icon Double-click on this to open the file in the
application that created it, eg Word
An application Double-click on this to launch the
icon application
Recycle bin If you delete a file, it is stored here. You
can retrieve it later if you change your
mind
Printer icon You will learn more about printing later in
this module
Start
Taskbar
button ……..……………Main taskbar area………………….
Quick launch toolbar System Tray
Z The most important part of Z The main part of the taskbar
the taskbar is the Start will show which programs are
button – click on this to currently running – each
access all programs, button represents a program
documents and computer Z In the bottom right hand
settings corner is the System Tray –
Z Quick launch toolbar shows if you hover your mouse over
icons for frequently used the time, today’s date will
programs appear!
Using the mouse
Z Depending on where the
mouse pointer is on screen,
a different icon appears
This is the general pointer and means that the
computer is ready to do something
The hourglass shows that the computer is busy,
so you should wait until it goes back to normal
When the pointer changes to a two-headed
arrow you can resize a window
Mouse clicks
Z Left click - this means press the Z Right click – this means press
left mouse button once. Clicking the right mouse button once.
once selects an item. This opens a pop-up menu. Left
Z Double click - this means press click on a menu item to perform
the left mouse button twice that action.
quickly. Double-clicking is used
to launch a program from the Z Drag - Click on the item, hold
Desktop down the left mouse button and
move the mouse – as soon as
you release the mouse button,
the item will move to its new
Single click –
press this position
button once
Right click –
press this
Double click –
button once, a
press this
pop-up menu
button twice
appears
The Start Button
Z Use the Start button to start an
application
Z Move the mouse pointer over it and
click once
The Start menu appears
Z If your chosen application doesn’t
appear in the Start menu, click on
All Programs
Z Move the mouse pointer to your
required application and click once
The application will start!
The Parts of a Window
Minimise, maximise & close buttons
Title bar
Menu bar
Status Bar
What They All Mean
Title bar This shows the name of the program.
Menu bar Has labels which when clicked on produce drop down menus with
options to choose from
Status bar Gives information about the current status of the program you are
working in
Minimise icon Clicking on this makes the window disappear but a button
appears on the taskbar. To restore the window, click once on the
taskbar button.
Maximise button Clicking on this makes the window fill the screen.
Restore button Click on the restore icon will restore a maximised window to its
previous size
Close button Click this once to close a window.
Moving and Resizing a Window
Z To move a window, click on Z To resize a window, move
the title bar and drag the the mouse pointer to any of
window to its new position the borders – a two-headed
arrow will appear – drag to
make the window bigger or
smaller
Scroll Bars
Z If a window is too small to
Click here to scroll up
display the full contents,
scroll bars will appear
Z To move to the top of the
window, click on the up arrow Drag the scrollbar up
Z To move to the bottom of the and down to move
quickly
window, click on the down
arrow
Z To move quickly up or down,
drag the scroll bar
Z You can also scroll from left Click here to scroll down
to right if a window isn’t wide
enough
Working with more than one
window
Z If you have two windows on
screen, you can switch between
them by clicking anywhere inside
each window
Z Or you can click on the taskbar
buttons
Z To display 2 windows side by side,
right click on the taskbar and
select Tile Windows Horizontally
or Tile Windows Vertically
Switching off your computer
Z Close all open programs
Z Click on the Start button
Z Click on Turn Off Computer
Z Click on the Turn off icon
Z Most modern computers will
switch themselves off
automatically
Z Handy Hint: Alt + F4 will
also bring up the Turn Off
Computer Dialogue box!
Restarting your computer
Z Click on the Start button
Z Click on Turn Off Computer
Z In the dialogue box that
appears, click on Restart
Z Click on OK
Z Handy Hint: Pressing
Ctrl + Alt + Delete twice in
quick succession will do the
same job on a stand-alone
PC!
